Oil well mast gin pole



Feb. 5, 1957 H. J. WOOLSLAYER ET AL OIL WELL MAST GIN POLE Filed oct. 9, 1955 /26 -za 22 22 5) 2a 2/ J5 --aa 30- 35 25 38 L a f 29 27 Z5 2, 3276 (D A 26 /9 /7 7 INVENTORS United States Patent O OIL WELL MAST GIN POLE Homer J. Woolslayer, Charles D. Iddings, and Cecil Jenkins, Tulsa, Okla., and Erwin A. Campbell, Wexford, Pa., assignors to Lee C. Moore Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application October 9, 1953, Serial No. 385,252 s claims. (ci. 18s-16) This invention relates Ito the gin poles that are used in raising and supporting portable oil well masts, and more particularly to the way in which the gin poles are braced in an inclined operative position.

Oil well drilling masts that are hinged at their lower ends to supports so that they can be swung up to erect position are Well known. To aid in raising such a mast and to support it after it has been raised, a gin pole is used which also is pivoted to a support. Before the mast can be raised, the gin pole has to be raised because the cable that pulls up the mast is attachedto or supported by the top of the gin pole. In some cases it is necessary and in other cases it is highly desirable to rigidly brace the gin pole` in upright position while it is being used in raising and lowering the mast.

lt is among the objects of lthisinvention to provide a gin pole which 4is rigidly braced in its raised operative position, which uses braces that are permanently connected at their opposite ends to the gin pole and a support below it, and which uses braces that automatically move into bracing position when the gin pole is swung upward and that require a manual operation to start them away from bracing position.

In accordance with this invention the foot of an oil well mast gin pole is pivotally supported on a base, and the head of thev pole is formed to receive a cable for raising and lowering it, The gin pole normally is held in a predetermined inclined upper position by means of one or more jointed gin pole members -or braces. Each brace is formed from a pair of `substantially aligned links having inner ends that are yhinged together on an axis substantially parallel :to the pivotal axis of the gin pole foot. connected to the head of the gin pole, while the outer end of the other link is pivotally supported on or above the base in front of the foot of the gin pole. At the inner end of one ofthe links there is a projection normal ly engaged by a latch carried by the inner end of the other link to keep the links from swinging out of alignment in one direction, usually forward. The inner ends of the links are formed to prevent the links from ever swinging out of alignment in the oppositedirection. Means is provided for disconnecting the latch from the projection in order to permit the jointed brace to fold so that the head of the gin pole can be swung downward. The latch preferably is urged toward the links by a spring so that the latch will snap into operative position when the gin pole is raised and the brace straightened.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a side View of the raised gin pole and braces;

Fig. 2 is a front view of the same elements;

Fig. 3 is a side view showing the gin pole in its lowered position with the braces folded; and

Figs. 4 and 5 are enlargedfragmentary side and front Views, respectively, showing the joint in one of the braces.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the forwardly inclined gin pole has a pair of spaced structural steel The outer end of one of the links is pivotally and bar 22 together.

2,780,325 Patented Feb. 5, 1957 ICC 2 legs 1 that are rigidly connected at their upper ends by a cross member 2, on-the opposite ends of which sheaves 3 are journaled. A cross brace 4 a few feet below the ln the latter case the lower end ofthe sling (not shown) is suitably anchored so that when its opposite end is pulled rearwardly the gin pole rises.

ln order to limit the distance that the head of the gin pole can rise and also to prevent the pole from falling back from its upper position in case the raising cable breaks or is released accidentally, the gin pole is heldup by a pair of jointed braces 10, one in front of-each leg. The upper end lof each brace is pivotally connected to the upper end of one of the legs by a cross pin 11, and the lower end of the brace is pivotally connected by a cross pin l2 to the top of a post 13 that may be connected to the adjacent shoe 6 by means of a tie member 14. The pins are parallel to the pivotal axis of the gin pole feet. Also pivotally mounted on pins l2 are the lower ends of the front legs 15 of `the mast which the gin pole raises and lowers in a well known manner.

Each brace lli is formed from a pair of links 16 and 17. When the brace is in use it is substantially straight with its two links in alignment. Their adjoining inner ends are hinged together on a horizontal axis parallel to pivot pins 11 and 12 to permit the brace to fold. Preferably, the lower end of the upper link is forked at 18 and the upper end of the lower link is attened to provide a tongue 19 that extends into the fork. The overlapping ends of the tongue and fork are provided with axially aligned holes through which a hinge pin 21 extends. The inne-r ends of the links also are provided with means to keep zthem from swinging in one direction, preferably backward toward the gin pole, from `their aligned position in which the brace is straight. For this purpose one of the links is provided in front of the hinge pin 21 with an integral lug, while a short bar is Welded across the front of the other link in a position to engage the lug. `lt is preferred that the bar 22 be welded across link fork 18 and that the lug 23 project from the tongue 19 of the other link and engage flat against the bottom of the bar,` as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. This engagement of the bar and lug with each other stops the hinge from swinging farther back toward the gin pole from the straight line position of the brace. Y

To lock the brace in straight position so that the hinge will not accidentally move forward and allow the brace to fold, a latch 25 is provided which holds the lug 23 This latch most suitably is pivoted to the lower link 17 and hooks over the cross bar on the upper link. It is preferred that the latch be bifurca-ted so that its lower end can straddle a forward projection on tongue 19 and be pivotally connected to it by a pivot pin 26. The latch can be formed from apair of parallel plates 27 that are spaced apart by an upper block 28 and a lov/1er block 29 and by a perforated block 30' between 'the inner edges of the plates about midway'between the ends of the latch. The inner edges of the latch plates above the perforated block are provided With aA 30 and between the latch plates. The hole through the block is larger than the pin so that the block will not bind on `the pin when the latch is swung outward. Compressed between this bloek, which serves as an abutment 34 and a stop nut screwed on the outer end of the pin in front of the latch is a coil spring 3S. The pressure of `this spring against the perforated block forces the latch toward the links at all times.

When it is desired to swing the brace links away from the gin pole so that the brace can fold and allow the head of the pole to swing downward, the latch is pulled forward out of engagement with the cross bar 22 on the upper link. This can be done by attaching a line 37 (Figs. 1 and 4) to a handle or bail 33 `that has its ends anchored in the upper and lower blocks 28 and 29 of the latch. The latch is pulled away from the links until it clears the cross bar and the spring is compressed, and then further tension on the handle pulls the lower link forward and thereby breaks the joint in the brace. As

soon as the`joint is broken the head of the r1in pole can f descend, the two links continuing to swing outward and downward as this occurs. The lower positions of the gin pole and braces are shown in Fig. 3.

When the gin pole is raised by the cable (not shown) at its upper end, each brace 1t) is straightened until the cross bar 22 on its upper link enters .the notch in the adjoining latch 25 and engages the lug 23 on the lower link. The hinge joint then can swing neither forward nor backward until the latch is released, and then only forward. As long as the braces are straight, they are rigid. Nothing is required of a workman to position the braces or to lock them in operative position, because they `act automatically when the gin pole is raised. They are always in place because their opposite ends are permanently connected to the gin pole and the base.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, we have explained the principle of our invention and have illustrated and described what we now consider to represent its best embodiment. However, we desire to have lit understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described.

We claim:

1. The combination with an oil well mast gin pole having a head and a foot, a base, and means on the base pivotally supporting the foot of the gin pole, the head of the gin pole being formed to receive a cable for raising and lowering it; of a jointed brace below the head of the gin pole and normally holding the pole in a predetermined inclined upper position, said brace comprising a pair of substantially aligned links having inner ends hinged together for movement forward away from the gin pole, means pivotally connecting the outer end of one of the links to the `head of the gin pole, means on the base in front of said foot-supporting means pivotally supporting the outer end of the other link, a lug member on `the front of the inner end of one of the links, a projection member on the front of the inner end of the other link engaging the lug member, a latch pivotally connected to the inner end of one of the links and shaped to hook over the said member on the other link to normally keep the links from swinging forward away from said gin pole, a spring urging the latch toward the links, and means for pulling `the latch away from said lug member and projection member to permit the links to swing forward so that the head of the gin pole can swing downward.

2. The combination with an oil ywell mast gin pole having a head and a foot, a base, and means on the base pivotally supporting the foot of the gin pole, the head of .the gin pole being formed to receive a cable for raising and lowering it; of a joined brace below the head of the gin pole and normally holding the pole in a predetermined inclined Aupper position, said brace comprising a pair of substantially aligned links having inner ends hinged together for movement forward away from the gin pole, means pivotally connecting the outer end of one of the links `to the head of the gin pole, means yon the base in front of said foot-supporting means pivotally supporting the outer end of the other link, a projection on the inner end Vof one of the links, a latch pivotally connected to the front of the inner end of the other link and shaped to hook over said projection to normally keep the links from swinging away from said gin pole, the latch being provided with a passage therethrough from front to back, a pin secured to said other link and c-;tending loosely through said passage, a stop at the outer end of the pin, an abutment secured to the latch and slidably mounted on the pin, a coil spring compressed between said stop and abutment to press the latch toward the links, and means for pulling the latch away from said projection to pull the links forward out of alignment so that the head of the gin pole can swing downward.

3. The combination with an oil well mast gin pole having a head and a foot, a base, and means on the base pivotally supporting the foot of the gin pole, the head of the gin pole being formed to receive a cable for raising and lowering it, of a jointed brace below the head of the gin pole and normally holding the pole in a predetermined inclined upper position, said brace comprising la pair of substantially aligned links having inner ends hinged together for movement forward away from the gin pole, means pivotally connecting the outer end of one of the links to the head of the gin pole, means on the base in front of said foot-supporting means pivotally supporting the outer end of the other link, the front of the inner end of one of the links having a lug, the inner end of the other link` being forked and provided with la forward projection engaging said lug to keep the aligned links from swinging backward toward the gin pole, a latch pivotally connected to one of the links and extending across said lug and projection, the back of the latch being notched to receive said lug and projection to hold them together, a spring urging the latch toward the links, and means for swinging the latch forward away from the links to disengage it from said lug and projection, whereby to permit the links to swing forward so that the head of the gin pole can swing downward.

4. A jointed gin pole brace comprising a pair of substantially laligned links, a pin hinging the inner ends of the links together, a projection on the inner end of one of the links at one side of said pin, a latch pivotally connected to the inner end of the other link and shaped to hook over said projection, the latch being provided with a passage therethrough extending toward the links, a pin secured to said other link and extending loosely through said passage, a stop at the outer end of the pin, a coil spring on the pin compressed between said stop and latch to press the latch toward the links, and means for pulling the latch away from said projection to release it therefrom and to pull the links out of alignment.

5. A jointed gin pole brace comprising a pair of substantially laligned links, a pin hinging the inner ends of the links together, projections on the inner ends of the links at one side of said pin, said projections engaging each other to prevent the inner ends of the links from swinging in one direction, a latch pivotally connected to the inner end of one of the links and shaped to hook over the projection on the other link, the latch being swingable away from the links, a spring urging the latch toward said projections, land means connected with the latch for pulling it away from said projection to release it therefrom so that the links can swing out of alignment.

References Cited -in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,471,492 Moore May 31, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 85,967 Germany Mar. 17, 1896 

